Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D: AIDA Chooses Fitz In 'The Return' Clip

Marvel has released a new clip for the upcoming episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. In last week's episode of the show - 'Goodbye, Cruel World!' - the core S.H.I.E.L.D. team managed to finally escape the confines of the dystopian digital alternate reality, the Framework. With Coulson and May alive and well but still held captive by the Superior, Daisy and Simmons awake but under enemy fire and Mack sadly electing to stay behind, the trouble is far from over however.

But perhaps the agent with the biggest problem (aside from Jeffrey Mace, he's dead) is Leopold Fitz. In the other reality, Fitz was the evil second-in-command at HYDRA and committed some despicable acts that the character usually wouldn't even contemplate. Before he could hyperventilate fully, the awakened Fitz was whisked away by the recently-humanized AIDA.

ABC has now released a short clip from tomorrow night's (May 9th) episode which will be titled 'The Return'. The scene reveals that AIDA and Fitz have ended up on a beach, with the former Life Model Decoy clearly enjoying the new sensations her humanity allows. Fitz meanwhile remains appropriately shell-shocked. AIDA makes it clear that she wishes to continue the romantic relationship she shared with Fitz in the Framework and once again teleports him away.

The scene doesn't give away whether or not Fitz will give in to AIDA's wishes or whether he'll resist and attempt to return to his old friends and lover, Jemma Simmons, in S.H.I.E.L.D. Currently the character is barely able to organize his own thoughts. Interestingly, the clip also sees AIDA attempt to absolve herself of any blame for the atrocities Fitz committed in the Framework, flat out denying having lied to him and demonstrating that her humanity hasn't quashed her penchant for manipulation.

Also in the scene, Fitz once again contemplates whether or not he is truly evil by nature - something he also spoke of towards the end of last week's episode. This lays the foundations for the character to possibly become a villain in the real world. Certainly, actor Iain de Caestecker was fantastic as a bad guy and managed to somehow transform the always-lovable Fitz into a real nasty piece of work.

Having said that, it would perhaps be the wrong move for the show to make the scientist a full-time baddie. The Framework was interesting in that it allowed the show to explore different versions of characters but the alternate reality setting made this believable (as far as believable gets in the M.C.U.) Fans may not buy Fitz as an evil-doer in the real world quite as readily as it goes against everything the character has displayed in previous seasons and would suggest that the paths of good and evil are determined by destiny rather than free will.